Office Suites

Gedit Text Editor

Gedit is the default Ubuntu (Gnome) text editor. See the online Help manual for usage instructions.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free and open source (GPL-licensed) office suite with applications for word processing (Writer), math formulae and equations (Math), diagrams and charts (Draw), presentations (Impress), spreadsheets (Calc), and databases (Base) that is now installed by default in (K)Ubuntu. If not, it can be installed:

Open Word 2007 Documents in LibreOffice

Open Office

Open Office was installed by default in older versions of (K)Ubuntu. It has been replaced by LibreOffice (which is similar) and is no longer available in (K)Ubuntu.

Calligra

Calligra is a KDE-oriented office suite that is fork of (and replaces) KOffice. It includes applications for word processing (Words), graphics and painting (Karbon and Krita), presentation and diagrams (Stage and Flow), spreadsheets (Sheets), databases (Kexi), and project management (Plan). Install:

sudo apt-get install calligra

AbiWord

AbiWord is a fast, collaboration-enabled word processor. For the most current version see the AbiWord web site. To install from the repositories:

sudo apt-get install abiword

GoldenDict (Multi-lingual Dictionary and Translator)

GoldenDict is multi-lingual dictionary and translator that supports Babylon and StarDict translation dictionary files and has multiple modular plugins. Install:

sudo apt-get install goldendict

Xournal

Xournal is a free (GPL-licensed) GTK/Gnome-based application for notetaking, sketching, or keeping a journal using a stylus. Install (universe repositories must be enabled):

sudo apt-get install xournal

Special characters

Gucharmap is a Gnome-based utility for finding special characters which are not available on the keyboard. Install:

sudo apt-get install gucharmap

PDF Files

PDF is the file format used by Adobe Acrobat (which can be read by many e-book readers as well). There are many PDF-oriented utilities available in (K)Ubuntu. In a package manager, search for "pdf".

Print to a PDF file

(K)Ubuntu allows printing of any document to the PDF format by default. From any application:

File -> Print -> Print to File -> Output: PDF

View a PDF document

Evince is the default PDF document viewer in Ubuntu. PDF files are associated by default with Evince, so clicking on a PDF file (from a file manager such as Nautilus) will open it with Evince. Evince can also be started:

Menu -> Office -> Evince

Scan to a PDF file

Gscan2pdf is a utility to do exactly that: scan to a PDF file. Multiple options for scanning can be set. Install:

PDF-Shuffler (PDF file management)

PDF-Shuffler is a free GTK-based utility to manipulate multiple PDF files, allowing individual pages or entire PDF documents to be re-arranged, rotated, merged, or deleted. This is an essential tool for working with PDF files. Install:

sudo apt-get install pdf-shuffler

Run:

Menu -> Office -> PDF-Shuffler

MaxView (PDF file management)

MaxView is a utility to capture, manipulate and rearrange, and print .pdf and .max files. Written in Qt, it is similar in some respects to Paperport.

Download and install the .deb package (use i386 instead of amd64 if using a 32-bit OS):

Start MaxView in a GUI by creating a menu item with the Command: maxview /home/user, where /home/user is the directory in which you wish MaxView to start.

PDFMod (PDF file management)

PdfMod is a Gnome-based application to reorder, rotate, and remove pages, export images from a document, edit the title, subject, author, and keywords, and combine documents via drag and drop. Install:

PDFedit (PDF file editor)

PDFedit is a free (GPL-licensed), Qt-based PDF file editing and manipulation program that uses a GUI for editing. Install:

sudo apt-get install pdfedit

Import PDF files into a word processor

Import PDF files into LibreOffice Writer

PDF files can be imported into the LibreOffice Writer word processor as a hybrid document (not a scanned character document) by installing:

sudo apt-get install libreoffice-pdfimport

Import PDF files into KWord

Kword is the Word Processor package in KOffice. It allows the importing of PDF files by default.

PDF-XChange (PDF file editor)

PDF-XChange is a free Windows-based application to view, modify, or perform simple editing of PDF files. It works under Wine.

DjVu files

DjVu is an open source file format that is an alternative to PDF. Files in this format are more compact while retaining image-layer separation of images and text. DjVu files can be read by both Evince (in Ubuntu) and Okular (in Kubuntu).

which will create a .png image showing the QR code for the simple text Have a Nice Day (note the usage of parentheses to accommodate the spaces in the text), or use

qrencode -o generatedimage.png http://ubuntuguide.org

to create a .png image showing the QR code for the URL of Ubuntuguide.

Qr-code-creator is a GUI for qrencode. Download and install the .deb package directly from the Launchpad site.

qtqr (QR encoder/decoder GUI)

QR Tools comprises a Python-based backend for manipulating QR codes (python-qrtools) and a GUI (qtqr). In Trusty or later, install:

sudo apt-get install qr-tools

In earlier versions download and install the .deb packages qtqr_1.2_all.deb and python-qrtools_1.2_all.deb from the QR Tools Launchpad site.

qreator (QR encoder GUI)

Qreator is a GUI-based QR code generator. See the installation instructions at the Launchpad site.

QR code viewers

Zbar is a free open-source barcode and QR code scanner that recognizes many formats. Install the utilities and the GTK-bindings:

sudo apt-get install zbar-tools libzbargtk0

For Android phones, a free, simple (ad-free) QR code scanner is Obsqr, whose .apk can be downloaded and installed directly from the F-Droid site listed.

Scripts and Screenplays

Trelby is an open source alternative to Final Draft. A .deb package can be downloaded from the website and installed directly.

Using a MediaWiki extension, a screenplay can be written in MediaWiki, allowing conversion to other formats.

Personal Information Managers

Kontact Personal Information Manager

Kontact is the default PIM included with Kubuntu. Kontact includes email, an address book, a calendar, reminders, pop-up notes, a link to the Akregator News/RSS reader, time-tracking, and more. Its many functions resemble MS-Outlook. Through connectors it interfaces with many groupware servers (such as Kolab and eGroupware). Install:

sudo apt-get install kontact

BasKet Note Pads

BasKet Note Pads is a personal note-taking application that resides on your computer and can be used for creating "to-do" lists. It is great for centralising your thoughts in one place. Install it: